News

Poetry Time Again

LEDBURY Poetry Festival returns to the town next week, for a nine-day celebration of the written word and one of its busiest-ever programmes, with a grand total of 82 events lined up.

In a year that sees the centenary anniversary of the First World War, the festival opens at 3.30pm on Friday, July 4, with a talk about the impact of the conflict.

David Reynolds, the Cambridge Professor of International History, will discuss "The Long Shadow: The Great War and the 20th Century", at Ledbury Baptist Church.

Highlights during the week ahead will include politician Clare Short, with "Desert Island Poems", and big names from the poetry world including Michael Schmidt, Lavinia Greenlaw, Sharon Olds and Glyn Maxwell.

And Ledbury Food Group and the festival have joined forces to celebrate the best of the region’s food, drink, poetry and music. There will be a market on Bye St car park from 11am on Sunday July 13.

A stage will be set up on Orme and Slade car park from noon, for poetry and music.